The way to know a scholar is that (you) ask the people of knowledge in his era about him. He should be well known amongst the Fuqahaa (the upright jurists) of his era and supported by what they say about his affair. He should be well known for seeking knowledge.

Shu’bah (rahimahullaah) said:

”Take knowledge from those who are well-known (i.e. those who are well-known and established in it).”

Ibn Awn (rahimahullaah) said:

”Do not take this knowledge except from one about whom it is testified that (he acquired it) through Talab (i.e. studied or studies with the scholars).”

Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (rahimahullaah) said: I did not give fatwa until I asked those who were more knowledgeable than me, as to whether I was competent in doing that. I asked Rabee and Yahyah Bin Sa’eed, so they commanded me to do that. So (the one speaking to Maalik at the time) said: O father of Abdullaah! What if they prohibited you? He replied: ‘’Then I would have stopped. It is not permissible for a person to consider himself worthy of anything (i.e. teaching, giving fatwa etc) until he asks someone (from the scholars) who is more knowledgeable than him.’’ [End of quote (1)]

Al-Allaamah Ubaid Ibn Abdillaah Al-Jaabiri (may Allaah preserve him) also stated: If the affair of a person is hidden from you–the one whose books and cassettes are famous and his fame is widespread–then ask those who are well acquainted with him and those who know about his state of affairs. That is because neither is the Sunnah hidden nor are its people. A man’s Tazkiyah (i.e. the clear witness that he is upright upon the Sunnah) are his own actions. His Tazkiyah are his own actions that he is upon the Sunnah. It is the witness and the people mention him with it during his life and after his death. [End of quote (2)]

So just ask yourself a simple question: Who amongst the scholars of Salafiyyah has given the UK pretenders the title ‘Scholar?’ The deceitful pretenders do not have a single recommendation showing that they are upright and trustworthy, rather some of them are well known for Ikhwaanism, Qutubiyyah, Sorooriyyah, Khurooj and others are advocates of Irjaa, philosophical rhetoric and other innovations.